Apparatus equipped with a touchscreen and method for controlling such an apparatus

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a touchscreen and a control device for executing an operating command which is input on the user side via the touchscreen. The control device is adapted to control the touchscreen such that, in order to prompt a command input, a first graphic element marking a touching starting location and a destination graphic arrangement having at least one second graphic element at a distance from the first graphic element are displayed on the touchscreen. The control device is further adapted to recognise a command input depending detecting a first movement of at least one object over the touchscreen starting from the touching starting location continuously up to a second graphic element of the destination graphic arrangement and on reaching this second graphic element a movement stoppage of the object, followed by a follow-up action of the object on the touchscreen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses equipped with atouchscreen and a method for controlling such an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In computer-based apparatuses, touchscreens are being increasinglyemployed to detect operating commands. What is referred to as atouchscreen is a display device which is adapted, on the one hand, todisplay pictorial information and, on the other hand, detect position(s)of one or more objects interacting with the touchscreen, for exampletouching the touchscreen. With the touchscreen, the user can immediatelyselect an object displayed on the touchscreen without the aid ofconventional input means, such as computer keyboards, joysticks orcomputer mice. The operation of the computer-based apparatus is therebyfacilitated. Moreover, touchscreens usually feature easily cleaned outersurfaces, which is why they are preferred over conventional input means.

In order to input an operating command, the user may touch atouch-sensitive surface of the touchscreen at a place at which a graphicelement representing the operating command is displayed. The graphicelement may be, for example, a wastepaper basket or a control buttonwith a textual explanation representing the command, e.g., “Laser ON”(i.e. switch on the laser). If, for example, the wastepaper basket isselected, i.e. the user touches the touchscreen in the region of thewastepaper basket, previously selected data or files may be deleted, andif the control button, “Laser ON” is selected, a laser may be put intoan operating state in which a laser beam is emitted.

Commands of this type may have irreversible consequences, since deleteddata or, in the above example, tissue treated by the laser beam cannotbe readily restored. In order to avoid operating errors in the case ofirreversible or safety-critical commands, a hurdle to operating errorsmay be provided whereby a command input has to be confirmed by anadditional input. To this end, for example, a safety query may bedisplayed on the display of the touchscreen, enabling the user toconfirm or cancel the operating command.

By way of example, reference is made in this regard to known art, e.g.,by Microsoft applications, where an input window displayed on agraphical user interface of a touchscreen can be seen, by means of whichthe user may be prompted, for example by a program executed on thecomputer-based apparatus, to confirm a command proposed by theapparatus. One in the art is familiar with a question like “Delete allmeasurement data?”, which may be displayed on the touchscreen. In orderto answer this question, the user may have the option to confirm theproposed command by selecting an “OK”, “Yes” or equivalent controlbutton (equivalent in the sense of a semantic relationship to “OK” or“Yes”) or reject it by selecting a “Cancel”, “No” or equivalent controlbutton. After selection of the control button, however, the associatedoperation (e.g., deletion operation) may not be carried out directly.Instead, the user may be prompted with a safety question to confirm theoperation; for example, a query field “Delete all measurement data. Areyou sure?” may be displayed. Only after the user has answered the safetyquestion by selecting/activating an associated control box displayed onthe touchscreen, is the measurement data deleted in accordance with thecommand.

This kind of confirmation of an operating command is comparativelycumbersome and the duration of the entire command input is relativelylong.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an apparatus and a method for controlling such an apparatuswhich are distinguished by a user-friendly and at the same time safeoperation.

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

According to a first aspect, in this regard, a method for controlling anapparatus equipped with a touchscreen is provided, wherein the methodcomprises the execution of an operating command which is input on theuser side via the touchscreen, wherein, in order to prompt a commandinput, a first graphic element marking a touching starting location anda destination graphic arrangement having at least one second graphicelement at a distance from the first graphic element are displayed onthe touchscreen, wherein a command input is recognised depending onthere being detected a first movement of at least one object over thetouchscreen starting from the touching starting location continuously upto a second graphic element of the destination graphic arrangement, andon reaching this second graphic element a movement stoppage of theobject, followed by a follow-up action of the object on the touchscreen.

The graphic elements (first graphic element, second graphic element) cancontain, for example, textual elements or/and pictorial elements or/andsymbolic elements. The touching starting location marked by the firstgraphic element can be of punctual nature or the first graphic elementcan provide an areal region, within which the user can touch any desiredplace or any desired partial region and use it as a touching startinglocation.

The follow-up action can comprise a stationary dwelling of the object atthe second graphic element reached for a preset minimum duration. Thisminimum duration can lie, for example, in the range between 0.3 and 2.0seconds. Alternatively or additionally, the follow-up action cancomprise a follow-up movement of the object over the touchscreenstarting from the second graphic element reached in the direction awayfrom the latter. The follow-up movement here has advantageously to takeplace in a direction transversely with respect to the direction of thefirst movement, for instance in the manner of a hooked movement.

In specific embodiments, the command input is recognised depending onthe follow-up action being detected without intermediate lifting-off ofthe object from the touchscreen after the first movement. In otherembodiments, by contrast, intermediate lifting-off of the object fromthe touchscreen after the first movement is required or at least not ahindrance before the follow-up action is performed. Thus, in specificembodiments, the follow-up action can comprise, for example, a renewedmovement of the object over the touchscreen starting from the touchingstarting location continuously up to the second graphic element reachedon the first movement. In other words, in these embodiments, the firstmovement is to be performed once again substantially according to thesame movement pattern, so to speak as a confirmation of the firstmovement. In other embodiments, the follow-up action can comprise arenewed touching by means of the object of the second graphic elementreached after intermediate lifting-off of the object from thetouchscreen. In such embodiments, the command input can be concluded bythe user, after he or she has completed the first movement with theobject, tapping the second graphic element reached with the object onceagain for confirmation purposes.

Irrespective of whether intermediate lifting-off of the object from thetouchscreen between the first movement and the follow-up action isrequired or undesirable, there can be displayed on the touchscreen anoptical indication which disappears depending on the follow-up actionbeing performed. The optical indication serves, so to speak, as areminder for the user that he or she has still to perform the follow-upaction and must not forget it. For example, the optical indication cancomprise a flashing of a graphic element displayed on the touchscreen,for instance a flashing of the first graphic element or of the secondgraphic element reached on the first movement. Other visualisation meanswhich can be understood by a user as an indication of the necessity forthe still outstanding follow-up action are readily conceivable. Forexample, a visually perceptible indicating effect can be achieved viathe colour, the colour saturation, the degree of transparency or/and thedisplay size of the first graphic element or/and of the second graphicelement.

According to specific embodiments, on detection of the first movement,the first graphic element is displaced on the touchscreen in thedirection towards the second graphic element preferably synchronouslywith the moving object. This concomitant movement of the first graphicelement with the moving object supplies the user with a visualacknowledgement about the effectiveness of his or her operatingactivities on the touchscreen. Here, the displaced first graphic elementcan be locked at the second graphic element, for example, in at leastpartial superimposition of the latter, depending on the follow-up actionalso being detected. If the follow-up action has not yet begun or atleast is not yet concluded, the displaced first graphic element can jumpback after lifting-off of the object from the touchscreen to theoriginal position where it was located at the beginning of the firstmovement. Such a jumping-back of the first graphic element signals tothe user that the command input is not yet concluded and that he or shehas to perform, for this purpose, a renewed movement of the object onthe touchscreen from the touching starting location up to the desiredsecond graphic element.

In specific embodiments, the destination graphic arrangement can have aplurality of at least two second graphic elements which are arranged ata distance from one another and each of which is assigned a differentoperating command. In such a configuration, the first graphic elementcan be displayed, for example, at a place on the touchscreen where it iscentred with respect to the second graphic elements of the destinationgraphic arrangement. Other arrangement patterns of the first graphicelement relative to the second graphic elements are, of course,possible.

According to further embodiments, one of the second graphic elements cansignify a confirmation of a called apparatus function, for example, of afunction for storing or deleting or modifying data, and another of thesecond graphic elements can signify a rejection of this apparatusfunction.

In other embodiments, the operating command causes an adjustment of anadjustable component of the apparatus into one of a plurality ofdifferent predefined adjustment states, e.g., positions. The adjustablecomponent can be, for example, a patient chair, a patient couch, a slitlamp or a laser head. Each of the adjustment states here is assigned adifferent second graphic element.

In specific embodiments, a haptic and/or visual and/or acousticacknowledgement is output by the apparatus after at least part of thefollow-up action. This acknowledgement can serve as confirmation of asuccessful input of the operating command for the user.

In correspondence with the first method aspect, there is provided anapparatus, having a touchscreen and a control device, coupled to thetouchscreen, for executing an operating command which is input on theuser side via the touchscreen. The control device is adapted to controlthe touchscreen in such a manner that, in order to prompt a commandinput, a first graphic element marking a touching starting location anda destination graphic arrangement having at least one second graphicelement at a distance from the first graphic element are displayed onthe touchscreen. The control device is further adapted to recognise acommand input depending on there being detected a first movement of atleast one object over the touchscreen starting from the touchingstarting location continuously up to a second graphic element of thedestination graphic arrangement and on reaching this second graphicelement a movement stoppage of the object, followed by a follow-upaction of the object on the touchscreen.

A second method aspect of the present disclosure provides a method foroperating an apparatus equipped with a touchscreen, wherein, in themethod, in response to a predefined operating command, a view on thetouchscreen changes from a first menu page to a second menu page.

An input of the operating command is recognised depending on a firstmovement of an object over the touchscreen being detected andsimultaneously or at least partly temporally overlapping with respectthereto at least one further movement of an object over the touchscreenalong a movement path which is different from a movement path of thefirst movement being detected, or/and a stationary dwelling of an objecton the touchscreen at a place distant from the movement path of thefirst movement being detected. Such a movement can be, for example, aswiping movement or a dragging movement. With such a coupling of a firstmovement to at least one further movement or/and a stationary dwellingof an object on the touchscreen as a condition for the successful inputof an operating command, increased safety with respect to an unintendedoperating error and thus an unintended activation of specific apparatusfunctions can be afforded. Such operating errors may occur not only inthe context of the control of the apparatus by operating control fieldson the touchscreen within one and the same menu view, but also in thenavigation through different menu pages of an operating menu. Navigationerrors within the often highly branched tree of menu pages which anoperating menu of an apparatus may have, easily lead to delays in thetreatment process or even to the activation of incorrect apparatusfunctions. The solution according to the second method aspect can ensurethat the change from one screen view to another is not activatedunintentionally by, for example, an uncontrolled movement or gesture notintended at all by the user as a specific command, for example, in theform of a swinging movement of a hand or the presenting or pointing witha hand or a device provided therefor.

In embodiments it can be provided that an input of the operating commandis recognised depending on the movement paths of the first and eachfurther swiping movement running without intersecting one another and ifdesired running longitudinally beside one another.

The number of parallel movements (parallel here in the sense ofsimultaneous or at least partly temporally overlapping) can be specifiedin the second method aspect, for example, depending on the capabilitiesof the touchscreen. Modern touchscreens can detect more than two fingers(or devices, such as pens or other objects) which are placedsimultaneously on the touchscreen. Some touchscreens, for example, candetect up to ten fingers. Accordingly, with such touchscreens, it can beprovided that a successful input of a command for changing menu pagesrequires the temporally parallel detection of a swiping gesture of up toten fingers (or generally: objects) on the touchscreen. However,embodiments are, of course, also possible in which the first movementand only a single further movement are sufficient to be able to inputthe operating command successfully.

It can be provided that specific criteria are specified beforehand forthe relative position and/or orientation of the movement paths of theobjects on the touchscreen, which criteria are to be observed in orderto be able to input a command for changing menu pages successfully. Forexample, it can be specified that a movement path must be within a giventolerance band in relation to a neighbouring movement path, in order tobe able to be a basis for the successful command input. If the movementpath leaves the tolerance band, the command input fails or the relevantmovement is rejected as invalid. Alternatively or additionally, apredetermined position or/and orientation relative to the touchscreencan be specified for the movement paths. For example, it can be providedthat all movement paths must lie only within a specific, e.g., centralhorizontal, strip on the touchscreen, in order to be able to serve as abasis for a successful command input. Alternatively or additionally,specific requirements may be placed on the movement paths as regards thepath length or/and the duration of the individual movements.

In specific embodiments, it can be provided that an input of theoperating command is recognised depending on paired neighbouringmovement paths observing, at least on part of their path length, apredefined minimum spacing and/or a predefined maximum spacing.Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that an input of theoperating command is recognised depending on paired neighbouringmovement paths—insofar as they do not already run at a uniform spacingfrom one another anyway—run at an angle to one another which does notexceed a predetermined maximum angle, for example a maximum angle of 5degrees.

In some embodiments, an input of the operating command is recogniseddepending on the stationary dwelling of an object at a place within apredefined region of the touchscreen being detected. This predefinedregion can be, for example, a corner region of the touchscreen.

For the duration of the stationary dwelling of an object on thetouchscreen, a minimum value can be specified beforehand, for example0.5 or 1.0 or 1.5 or 2.0 seconds. For a successful input of an operatingcommand, there can additionally be a prerequisite that the stationarydwelling of an object satisfies a predefined time relationship withrespect to the first movement. This time relationship may, for example,relate to the beginning of the stationary dwelling or/and its durationor/and its end. Numerous constellations can be envisaged here. To givean example which is in no way limiting, it could be provided that thebeginning of the stationary dwelling must lie before the beginning ofthe first movement, and that the user must maintain the stationarydwelling continuously until after the end of the first movement.

In correspondence with the second method aspect, the present disclosurealso provides an apparatus having a touchscreen and a control devicecoupled to the touchscreen, wherein the control device is adapted tocontrol the touchscreen in such a manner that, in response to apredefined operating command, a view on the touchscreen changes from afirst menu page to a second menu page. The control device is adapted torecognise an input of the operating command depending on a firstmovement of an object over the touchscreen being detected andsimultaneously or at least partly temporally overlapping with respectthereto at least one further swiping movement of an object over thetouchscreen along a movement path which is different from the movementpath of the first movement being detected, or/and a stationary dwellingof an object on the touchscreen at a place distant from the movementpath of the first movement being detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention will be further explained below with the aid of theappended drawings, taking a medical apparatus, in particular anophthalmological apparatus, as an example. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment for inputting an operating commandin an ophthalmological apparatus via a touchscreen,

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment for inputting an operatingcommand in an ophthalmological apparatus via a touchscreen,

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment for inputting a command forpositioning a patient bed in an ophthalmological apparatus via atouchscreen,

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment for inputting a command forpositioning a patient bed in an ophthalmological apparatus via atouchscreen, and

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fifth embodiment for inputting a command forchanging a page of an operating menu displayed on a touchscreen in anophthalmological apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The ophthalmological apparatuses considered by way of example in thecontext of the present disclosure can serve for operative purposesor/and diagnostic purposes, i.e. include suitable devices fortherapeutic or/and surgical treatment or/and diagnostic investigation ofa human eye.

In specific embodiments the ophthalmological apparatus is or comprises alaser apparatus which provides focused laser radiation having suitableradiation parameters for laser treatment of human eye tissue, and whichis equipped with a suitable control for moving the laser radiation andespecially its focus in space and time to achieve the desired treatmentresult. The laser treatment can comprise, for example, making cuts inthe cornea or in the region of the human lens or in other parts of theeye tissue by lining up a large number of damage zones caused by theeffect of photodisruption and locally limited approximately to the focusdimensions of the laser radiation. The laser radiation used for this isshort-pulsed with a pulse duration in the range of femto-, pico-, nano-or even atto-seconds and has a wavelength which ensures a transmissionof the radiation into the eye tissue, for example, a wavelength in theUV range above about 300 nm or in the IR range between about 800 nm and1900 nm. Alternatively or additionally, the laser treatment cancomprise, for example, a photoablative removal of a tissue volume fromthe surface of a tissue part of the eye (e.g., the cornea) by means oflaser radiation with a wavelength at which a transmission does not takeplace through the irradiated tissue (typically below 300 nm). Forexample, an Argon Flouride (ArF) excimer laser emitting at about 193 nmcan be used for such photoablative treatment.

Reference is made first of all to the first embodiment according toFIGS. 1 and 2. There, a rectangular box 10 is used to indicate highlyschematically an apparatus which can be found in an ophthalmologist'spractice or an eye clinic for ophthalmological purposes. Theophthalmological apparatus 10 can serve, for example, for the lasertreatment of human eye tissue and can be equipped with a laser source(not shown specifically) which provides laser radiation having radiationparameters suitable for the intended laser treatment. Alternatively oradditionally, the ophthalmological apparatus 10 can enable diagnosticinvestigations of a human eye, for example determination of thetopography of the surface of the eye (e.g., the front surface of thecornea), determination of a thickness profile of a cornea by means ofpachymetric methods, taking of two- or three-dimensional pictures of theeye or parts thereof by means of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)methods, carrying out of wavefront measurements on the eye and the like.The list of these exemplary diagnostic investigations is in no waylimiting; the technical means required for carrying out such diagnosticinvestigations, as well as those for carrying out laser treatment, ofthe human eye are known per se in the art and therefore do not requirefurther explanation here.

In the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ophthalmologicalapparatus 10 has an electronic, program-controlled control device 12which is connected to a memory 14, in which measurement data (and ifdesired other data) are stored. To obtain the measurement data, theophthalmological apparatus 10 comprises a measuring device 16, theconcrete form of which is of no further importance here. It suffices tonote that the measuring device 16 delivers measurement data which isstored in the memory 14 and obtained, for example, by measurements on apatient's eye.

The ophthalmological apparatus 10 furthermore has a touchscreen 18,which is a display device, the display area of which (or at least partof the same) is of touch-sensitive design, i.e. responds to touches byan object approaching the display area and generates correspondingelectrical signals and delivers them to the control device 12. From thetouch signals delivered by the touchscreen 18, the control device 12determines whether specific touch patterns are present which can beinterpreted as valid input of an operating command. The technology ofsuch touchscreens is known per se; further explanation is thereforeunnecessary here. It should be emphasised, however, that in the contextof the present disclosure, both capacitive and pressure-sensitivetouchscreens are possible, so that the term touching here is not to beunderstood as necessarily presupposing actual contact, as in the case ofpressure-sensitive touchscreens. In the case of capacitively actingtouchscreens, a “touching” can already be detected even before anapproaching object has actually been placed on the touchscreen.

The object used to operate the touchscreen 18 can be, for example, atleast one finger of at least one hand. Alternatively, pen-shapedpointing instruments can be used. The representation of a human handshown in some of the figures is thus to be understood merely as anexample.

To explain a first procedure for inputting an operating command via thetouchscreen 18, a dialog field 20 can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, whichfield is displayed on the display area of the touchscreen 18 and asksthe user whether he or she would like to delete existing measurementdata (“Delete all measurement data?”). The measurement data to bedeleted can be, for example, that which is stored in the memory 14. Thedialog field 20 presents the user with two options for reacting to theposed question of whether the measurement data is to be deleted. Thesetwo options are represented by two text fields 22, 24, one of whichcontains the textual content “OK” and the other of which contains thetextual content “Cancel”. By means of the text field 22 (“OK”) the usercan confirm the intended deletion operation; by means of the text field24 (“Cancel”) he or she can, however, prevent the deletion operation.Each of the two text fields 22, 24 constitutes a second graphic elementwithin the meaning of the invention; together they form or are at leastpart of a destination graphic arrangement. The textual contents “OK” and“Cancel” are chosen here by way of example. Various other textual and/orpictorial contents (e.g., “Yes”/“No”) of equivalent meaning arealternatively conceivable.

The dialog field 20 contains a further graphic element which is arrangedapproximately midway between the two text fields 22, 24 and is formed asa sliding box 26 with a double-headed arrow 28 drawn therein. Thesliding box 26 with the double-headed arrow 28 constitutes a firstgraphic element within the meaning of the invention. In its positionshown in FIG. 1 midway between the two text fields 22, 24, the slidingbox 26 marks a touching starting location, at which the user is to placehis or her finger (or another pointing object) on the touchscreen 18, inorder to drag from there the sliding box 26 either in the directiontowards the text field 22 (for confirmation of the desired datadeletion) or in the direction towards the text field 24 (forcancellation of the data deletion).

Deletion of data is in some cases an irreversible operation, which iswhy it is desirable to avoid unintended deletions. It is therefore notsufficient in the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 to slidethe sliding box 26 in the direction towards the text field 22 (“OK”) andover this text field 22, as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, theuser must in addition keep his or her pointing object (represented inFIG. 2 by a finger 30) on the sliding box 26 for a specific minimumduration after he or she has slid the sliding box 26 over the text field22. This minimum duration can be, for example, 0.5 or 1.0 or 1.5 or 2.0seconds. The operating procedure for confirming the data deletion isthus composed of a first movement, in which the finger 30 is movedstarting from the touching starting location up to the text field 22 (inthis movement the sliding box 26 is displaced with the moving finger), asubsequent movement stoppage when the finger 30 has reached the regionof the second text field 22, and, following that, a dwelling of thefinger 30 in the region of the text field 22 for the preset minimumduration. Only when this operating pattern has been recognised by thecontrol device 12 does the latter conclude that there is a successfulinput of a deletion command and accordingly deletes the desired data. Acorresponding operating pattern (with a dwelling on the destinationgraphic element) may be necessary for the cancellation of the datadeletion, i.e. when the sliding box 26 is moved in the direction towardsthe text field 24. Since the cancellation of the data deletion does nothave irreversible consequences, however, a mere sliding of the slidingbox 26 over the text field 24 without subsequent dwelling of the finger30 may suffice for the cancellation of the data deletion.

Unintentional data deletion by an accidental swiping gesture in thedirection towards the text field 22 is prevented by the proceduredescribed above. The required stationary dwelling of the finger at theplace of text field 22, after the sliding box 26 has been slid over thetext field 22, constitutes a reliable hurdle against unintentional,accidental data deletions.

The movement path of the first movement is illustrated in FIG. 2 at 32;the beginning of the movement path lies at 34 and represents themovement starting location.

In the further figures, like or functionally similar elements aredenoted by the same reference symbols as in FIGS. 1 and 2, butsupplemented by a small letter. Unless otherwise stated below, referenceis made to the above statements in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 for theexplanation of these elements.

A partial region, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, of an ophthalmologicalapparatus 10 a according to the second embodiment has in a sliding box26 a of a dialog field 20 a, apart from a double-headed arrow 28 a, twofurther arrows 36, 38. Furthermore, two further arrows 40, 42 are alsodisplayed adjacent to two text fields 22 a, 24 a. The further arrows 36,38, 40, 42 are oriented in FIGS. 3 and 4 substantially parallel to oneanother and perpendicularly to the double-headed arrow 28 a. Othermovement paths, such as, for example, of a horizontal, oblique, circularor angular kind, will also be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the ophthalmological apparatus 10 a has all the features ofthe ophthalmological apparatus 10.

As in the first procedure described above, in a second procedure,described below, for inputting an operating command via the touchscreen18 a there is displayed a dialog field 20 a with the question, by way ofexample, of whether existing measurement data is to be deleted. Unlikein the ophthalmological apparatus 10, however, in the ophthalmologicalapparatus 10 a there is provided an operating pattern in which anobject, for example, a finger 30 a, for confirmation, instead ofdwelling on the respective text field, has to perform a follow-upmovement in the form of a hooked movement. In order to confirm the datadeletion, the user in this embodiment thus has to drag the sliding box26 a from the touching starting location (beginning of the movement path32 a) at 34 a to the text field 22 a (first movement) and thendeliberately move it on, in the direction of the arrow 42 arranged onthe text field 22 a, away from the text field 22 a (transversely withrespect to the direction of the first movement). This follow-up movementmay, for example, have to take place over a predetermined distance,which is marked by the reference symbol 44 in FIG. 4. In particular, itis sufficient for the distance to correspond just to the detectionresolution of the touchscreen, i.e. be just of such a length that amovement of the object in the direction of the arrow 42 is detectable bythe touchscreen. Alternatively, it may be necessary for the distance tocorrespond at least to the length of the sliding box 26 a in thelongitudinal direction of the arrow 42. As the aforementioned dwelling,the moving-on here also constitutes a follow-up action within themeaning of the invention.

Between the first movement and the follow-up movement, a movementstoppage has to take place, i.e. it is necessary for the finger 30 a tocome to a standstill. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable forthe finger 30 a not to stop completely, but reduce its absolute velocityor its velocity magnitude in the direction of the first movement by atleast 50%. In this case, flowing movements for the command input arealso suitable. Preferably, the finger 30 a touches the touchscreen hereduring the entire command input, i.e. during the first movement, themovement stoppage and the follow-up movement, continuously.Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the finger, for confirmationof the command input, to be removed from the touchscreen after the firstmovement and the first movement repeated once starting from the touchingstarting point up to the text field 22 a (“double swiping gesture”) orfor the second text field 22 a for confirmation to be tapped afterlifting off the finger 30 a from the touchscreen.

In the second embodiment too, for the cancellation of the data deletion,an analogous operating pattern with a moving-on of the sliding box 26 aafter reaching the text field 24 a may be required or a mere sliding ofthe sliding box 26 a to the text field 24 a may suffice. It is,moreover, conceivable for the arrows 38 and 42 to be orientedantiparallel or at any desired angle to the arrows 36, 40, with theresult that the action to be performed for the confirmation can bedifferentiated more clearly from the action to be performed for therejection. Additionally, a dwelling, described above in connection withthe ophthalmological apparatus 10, may have to take place before orafter the moving-on.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an ophthalmological apparatus 10 b according to athird embodiment which allows the user to adjust a position of a patientcouch 46 in a manner free from errors. The patient couch 46 iselectrically adjustable, i.e. positionable. For this purpose, itcomprises at least one servomotor (not shown in the figures) which canbe controlled by means of a control device 12 b. The control device 12 bis coupled to the patient couch 46, a memory 14 b and a touchscreen 18b. To adjust the patient couch 46, the control device 12 b retrievescharacteristic position data from the memory 14 for the positioning ofthe patient couch and determines, for example, on the basis of adifference between an initial position of the patient couch and aposition to which it is to be moved, control signals to be output to theservomotor. Since a person skilled in the art is familiar with thestructure and functioning of patient couches, a detailed description istherefore dispensed with here. Instead of or in addition to the patientcouch 46, the ophthalmological apparatus 10 b can allow the user toadjust a patient chair, a slit lamp or a laser head in the same way.

In the third procedure, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for inputting anoperating command via a touchscreen 18 b, the patient couch 46 can bemoved into four positions. In order to display to the user how such anoperating command is to be input, there is displayed in a sliding box 26b, perpendicularly to a double-headed arrow 28 b, a furtherdouble-headed arrow 47. Furthermore, at each of four mutually oppositeends of two intersecting strips, there is displayed in each case a textfield 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e representing a position.

For the command input, provision is made, analogously to the first twoembodiments, for the user to place his or her finger 30 b on a touchingstarting location marked by the sliding box 26 b and move it, whiletouching the screen 18 b, in the longitudinal direction of one of thedouble-headed arrows 28 b, 47, the sliding box 26 b following themovement. In the case shown in FIG. 6, the user moves his or her fingerhere in such a manner upwards in the longitudinal direction of thedouble-headed arrow 47 that the sliding box 26 b reaches one end of oneof the strips at the text field 22 d, in order to initiate a movement ofthe patient couch into the third position. For the confirmation of thecommand input, it is, moreover, necessary here for the control device 12b to recognise the operating pattern described in connection with theophthalmological apparatus 10, in particular the dwelling of the finger30 b adjacent to the respective text field. Alternatively, however, therecognition of the operating pattern with the follow-up movementdescribed in connection with the ophthalmological apparatus 10 a mayalso be necessary. In this case, preferably additional arrows orientedperpendicularly to the double-headed arrows 28 b, 47, as describedabove, would be displayed at the ends of the double-headed arrows 28 b,47.

The movement of the finger here may in particular have to take placeuntil the end of the respective strip is reached while touching thetouchscreen within a region 48 which is formed by the two intersectingstrips and bordered by a line. In other words, a command input isconsidered to be cancelled when the finger leaves the bordered region 48during the command input, before the end of the strip has been reached.While the sliding box 26 b follows the finger 30 b as long as the finger30 b touches the touchscreen 18 within the bordered region 48, thesliding box 26 b returns to its original position at the touchingstarting location as soon as the finger leaves the region 48. The useris thereby informed that the command input has been cancelled. Thesliding box here always moves as a whole within the bordered region 48along one of the double-headed arrows 28 b, 47.

Unlike in the ophthalmological apparatus 10 b, in an ophthalmologicalapparatus 10 c according to a fourth embodiment provision is made forthe user to be able to choose between eight instead of four positions ofa patient couch 46 c. The positions of the patient couch representadjustment states. The ophthalmological apparatus 10 c furthermorediffers from the ophthalmological apparatus in that the sliding box 26 cdisplayed on the touchscreen 18 c is movable not only along one of thedouble-headed arrows 28 c, 47 c, but freely in the display plane of thetouchscreen within a bordered region 48 c. Moreover, the text fields 22f, 22 g, 22 h, 22 i, 22 j, 22 k, 221, 22 m representing the eightpositions are arranged within the bordered region 48 c. As in theophthalmological apparatus 10 b, an operating command is considered tobe cancelled as soon as a finger 30 c does not touch the touchscreen 18c within the bordered region 48 c, thus for example leaves the borderedregion 48 c during the first movement starting from the touchingstarting point up to one of the text fields. Alternatively, it may alsobe provided here that the first movement has to take place substantiallylinearly, i.e. de facto must follow a line connecting the touchingstarting location to the respective text field.

Furthermore, the ophthalmological apparatus 10 c can have all otherfeatures of the ophthalmological apparatus 10 b and be operatedanalogously.

An ophthalmological apparatus 10 d according to a fifth embodiment shownin FIGS. 9 and 10 comprises an electronic, program-controlled controldevice 12 d which is connected to a memory 14 d and a touchscreen 18 d.Optionally, the control device 12 d can additionally be coupled to ameasuring device or a patient couch as in the embodiments describedabove. In the memory 14 d there are stored, inter alia, a plurality ofmenu pages which may comprise, for example, textual and/or pictorialinformation, control buttons for executing applications and/or anydesired input interfaces, and are to be displayed, for example,individually on the touchscreen. The control device 12 d also determineshere, from touch signals delivered by the touchscreen 18 d, whetherspecific touch patterns are present which are to be interpreted as validinput of an operating command. Unlike in the first four embodiments,however, the operating command here is directed at switching between twomenu pages, i.e. at changing the display of the touchscreen.

A first such menu page 52 is displayed on a touchscreen 18 d in aprogram window 50. Furthermore, two second menu pages 54, 56 notdisplayed on the touchscreen 18 d are represented in FIGS. 9 and 10schematically bordered with broken lines and marked with the text “Page2” and “Page 3”, respectively.

FIGS. 9 and 10 represent two procedures alternative to one another forswitching from the first menu page 52 to the second menu page 54. In thefirst procedure, shown in FIG. 9, for inputting an operating command forswitching via the touchscreen, the user has to touch the touchscreen 18d with in each case one finger 30 d, 31 of both hands within the programwindow in the region of the first menu page 52. Subsequently, the userhas to draw the fingers 30 d, 31 together, while touching thetouchscreen 18 d, in a direction away from the second menu page 54. Thefingers are moved here together substantially parallel to one another ineach case along a movement path 58, 60. The movements of the fingers 30d, 31 thus run longitudinally beside one another. In this embodiment,the movements are swiping movements. Alternatively, for example,dragging movements or equivalent types and forms of movement areconceivable. Neither the movement paths 58, 60 themselves, nor straightlines comprising the movement paths 58, 60, therefore intersect. Forvalid inputting of a movement command, it is necessary here for themovement paths 58, 60, i.e. the paths along which the fingers swipe overthe touchscreen, to run substantially straight (linearly).

In the second procedure, illustrated in FIG. 10, the user has to moveonly the finger 30 d; the finger 31 touches the touchscreensubstantially stationarily in the left bottom corner region 62 of theprogram window 50. In this case, the control device 12 d thus recognisesthe input of the operating command only when one of the fingers ismoved, while the other rests stationary on the touchscreen in the cornerregion 62.

In ophthalmological treatments, it is necessary and desirable to finishthe treatment in the shortest possible time, in order to keep theinconvenience for the patient to a minimum. The speed thereby required,however, promotes the occurrence of careless operating errors. With theprocedures shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 for switching between the menu pages,inadvertent operating errors of the ophthalmological apparatus areeffectively avoided. This is of great importance particularly in thecase of the ophthalmological apparatuses, since operating errors therecan quickly lead to irreparable damage to a patient's eye.

Although FIGS. 9 and 10 only show a movement pattern with which anoperating command for switching between the first menu page 52 and thesecond menu page 54 is to be input, it is possible in theophthalmological apparatus 10 d to switch between the first menu page 52and the second menu page 56 by means of an analogous movement patternwhen, namely, the finger movement follows movement paths which areoriented perpendicularly to the movement paths 58, 60. The movement ofthe finger or the fingers 30 d, 31 will then run vertically. Preferably,a movement coupling between the first 52 and each of the second menupages 54, 56 causes a movement, at the same time and of the same kind asthe movement of the first menu page 52, of the respective second menupage 54, 56.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling an apparatusequipped with a touchscreen, the method comprising: displaying,simultaneously on the touchscreen, a first graphic element and adestination graphic arrangement at a distance from the first graphicelement, the first graphic element marking a touching starting location,at which a user is to place at least one object to start a firstmovement, the destination graphic arrangement including a plurality ofsecond graphic elements arranged at a distance from one another, theplurality of second graphic elements comprising a confirmation graphicelement signifying a confirmation of a called apparatus function, and arejection graphic element signifying a rejection of the called apparatusfunction; implementing the called apparatus function if the followingoccurs: detecting the first movement of the at least one object over thetouchscreen starting from the touching starting location continuously tothe confirmation graphic element of the destination graphic arrangement;detecting that the first movement results in the at least one objectreaching the confirmation graphic element and a movement stoppage of theat least one object, the movement stoppage having a preset minimumduration; detecting a follow-up action of the at least one object on thetouchscreen, wherein the follow-up action comprises a follow-up movementof the object over the touchscreen starting from the confirmationgraphic element reached in a transverse direction with respect to thefirst movement away from the confirmation graphic element; and inresponse to the first movement, the movement stoppage, and the follow-upaction, executing an operating command associated with the calledapparatus function; cancelling the called apparatus function if thefollowing occurs: detecting a second movement of the at least one objectover the touchscreen starting from the touching starting locationcontinuously to the rejection graphic element, the second movementdistinct from the first movement in not requiring any movement stoppage;in response to only the second movement, absent any movement stoppage,cancelling the operating command associated with the called apparatusfunction.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operatingcommand is executed when the follow-up action is detected withoutintermediate lifting-off of the object from the touchscreen after thefirst movement.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein thefollow-up action further comprises a renewed movement of the object overthe touchscreen starting from the touching starting locationcontinuously up to the confirmation graphic element reached on the firstmovement.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the follow-upaction further comprises a renewed touching by means of the object ofthe confirmation graphic element reached after intermediate lifting-offof the object from the touchscreen.
 5. The method according to claim 1,wherein there is displayed on the touchscreen an optical indicationwhich disappears depending on the follow-up action being performed. 6.The method according to claim 5, wherein the optical indicationcomprises a flashing of the first graphic element or of the confirmationgraphic element reached on the first movement.
 7. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein, on detection of the first movement, the firstgraphic element is displaced on the touchscreen in the direction towardsthe confirmation graphic element substantially synchronously with themoving object.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the displacedfirst graphic element is locked at the confirmation graphic element, inat least partial superimposition of the latter, depending on thefollow-up action also being detected.
 9. The method according to claim7, wherein the displaced first graphic element is moved back afterlifting-off of the object from the touchscreen as long as the follow-upaction has not yet begun or is not yet concluded.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the called apparatus function is afunction for storing or deleting or modifying data.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the operating command causes an adjustmentof an adjustable component of the apparatus into one of a plurality ofdifferent predefined adjustment states, wherein each of these adjustmentstates is assigned a different second graphic element.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a haptic and/or visual and/or acousticacknowledgement is output by the apparatus after at least part of thefollow-up action.
 13. An apparatus comprising: a touchscreen; and acontrol device, coupled to the touchscreen, for executing an operatingcommand which is input on the user side via the touchscreen, wherein thecontrol device is adapted to: simultaneously display on the touchscreen,a first graphic element and a destination graphic arrangement at adistance from the first graphic element, the destination graphicarrangement including a plurality of second graphic elements arranged ata distance from one another, the plurality of second graphic elementscomprising a confirmation graphic element signifying a confirmation of acalled apparatus function, and a rejection graphic element signifying arejection of the called apparatus function; implement the calledapparatus function if the following occurs: detect a first movement ofat least one object over the touchscreen starting from a touchingstarting location at the first graphic element continuously up to theconfirmation graphic element of the destination graphic arrangement andon reaching the confirmation graphic element and a movement stoppage ofthe object, the movement stoppage having a preset minimum duration;detect a follow-up action of the at least one object on the touchscreen,the follow-up action comprises a follow-up movement of the object overthe touchscreen starting from the confirmation graphic element reachedin a transverse direction away from the confirmation graphic element;and execute an operating command associated with the called apparatusfunction in response to the first movement, the movement stoppage, andthe follow-up action; and cancel the called apparatus function if thefollowing occurs: detect a second movement of the at least one objectover the touchscreen starting from the touching starting locationcontinuously to the rejection graphic element, the second movementdistinct from the first movement in not requiring any movement stoppage;in response to only the second movement, absent any movement stoppage,cancel the operating command associated with the called apparatusfunction.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the operatinginstruction is executed upon detecting the follow-up action withoutintermediate lifting-off of the object from the touchscreen after thefirst movement.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein thefollow-up action further comprises a renewed movement of the object overthe touchscreen starting from the touching starting locationcontinuously up to the confirmation graphic element reached on the firstmovement.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the follow-upaction further comprises a renewed touching by means of the object ofthe confirmation graphic element reached after intermediate lifting-offof the object from the touchscreen.
 17. The apparatus according to claim13, wherein the control device is adapted to cause the display on thetouchscreen of an optical indication which disappears depending on thefollow-up action being performed.
 18. The apparatus according to claim17, wherein the control device is adapted to output the opticalindication as a flashing of the first graphic element or of theconfirmation graphic element reached on the first movement.
 19. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control device is adaptedto control the touchscreen in such a manner that, on detection of thefirst movement, the first graphic element is displaced on thetouchscreen in the direction towards the confirmation graphic elementsubstantially synchronously with the moving object.
 20. The apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein the control device is adapted to controlthe touchscreen in such a manner that the displaced first graphicelement is locked at the confirmation graphic element, in at leastpartial superimposition of the latter, depending on the follow-up actionalso being detected.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 19, whereinthe control device is adapted to control the touchscreen in such amanner that the displaced first graphic element is moved back afterlifting off the object from the touchscreen as long as the follow-upaction has not yet begun or not yet ended.
 22. The apparatus accordingto claim 13, the called apparatus function is a function for storing ordeleting or modifying data.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the control device is adapted, on recognising the command input,to adjust an adjustable component of the apparatus into one of aplurality of different predefined adjustment states, wherein each ofthese adjustment states is assigned a different second graphic element.24. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control device isadapted to cause the output of a haptic and/or visual and/or acousticacknowledgement after at least part of the follow-up action.
 25. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control device is adaptedto control the touchscreen in such a manner that, in response to apredefined operating command, a view on the touchscreen changes from afirst menu page to a second menu page, wherein the control device isadapted to recognise an input of the operating command depending on afirst movement of the at least one object over the touchscreen beingdetected and simultaneously or at least partly temporally overlappingwith respect thereto at least one further movement of: a second objectover the touchscreen along a movement path which is different from themovement path of the first movement being detected; or a stationarydwelling of a third object on the touchscreen at a place distant fromthe movement path of the first movement being detected.
 26. Theapparatus according to claim 25, wherein the control device is adaptedto recognise the input of the operating command depending on the firstmovement of the object over the touchscreen being detected andsimultaneously or at least partly temporally overlapping with respectthereto at least one further movement of the object over the touchscreenalong the movement path which is different from the movement path of thefirst movement being detected, and further depending on the movementpaths of the first and each further movement running withoutintersecting one another.
 27. The apparatus according to claim 26,wherein the control device is adapted to recognise the input of theoperating command depending on the movement paths of the first and eachfurther movement running longitudinally beside one other.
 28. Theapparatus according to claim 25, wherein the control device is adaptedto recognise the input of the operating command depending on the firstmovement of the object over the touchscreen being detected andsimultaneously or at least partly temporally overlapping with respectthereto the stationary dwelling of the third object on the touchscreenat the place distant from the movement path of the first movement beingdetected, and further depending on the stationary dwelling of the thirdobject at a place within a predefined region of the touchscreen beingdetected.
 29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein thepredefined region is a corner region of the touchscreen.